Chapter 587: The End of the Game, After the Curtain Falls
To be honest, before the match, no one expected it would go into a penalty shootout.
Both Real Madrid and Manchester City are teams known for their fierce attacks and abundant goals. When two such teams meet, the expected result is usually one side overpowering the other through offense.
Though the final score of eight goals seemed to match expectations for both teams' offensive power, what no one anticipated was that the eight goals would be evenly split between them.
It was unbelievable!
Fans of both teams were tortured by this match. Now, with a brutal penalty shootout determining the winner, all they could do was pray.
However, from a neutral fan's perspective, getting to witness such a thrilling and action-packed Champions League final was truly a visual feast.
This rollercoaster of a match, with its many twists and turns, reminded many people of the night in Istanbul 12 years ago. That was another goal-fest, where both teams scored six goals in regular time. Liverpool, after falling behind by a wide margin, staged a miraculous comeback and ultimately won in a penalty shootout, creating the unforgettable Istanbul Miracle.
Penalty shootouts in Champions League finals aren't unusual. In the past decade, there have been two finals that went to penalties.
But whether it was the 2008 Manchester United vs. Chelsea match, or the 2012 Bayern vs. Chelsea game, both had very few goals, with both finishing 1-1.
Fewer goals mean the match lacks the same excitement, and the storyline doesn't have the kind of dramatic, unpredictable twists like this one did.
Because of this, many fans believe this match was the most exciting Champions League final they've seen in the past ten years, maybe even on par with that fateful night in Istanbul!
Regardless of which team ultimately lifts the trophy, for the fans, they are all winners.
...
While fans watched with excitement, awaiting the final showdown, the players and coaching staff of both teams were incredibly tense.
They were using every last minute to decide the order of the penalty takers.
"Lin, you're up first!"
Guardiola made the decision without hesitation. Lin was not only Manchester City's most reliable penalty taker but also the team captain and backbone of the squad.
As the leader, he had to step up in the crucial moment!
The first penalty taker bears the most psychological pressure and is most likely to miss. That's why the first spot must go to a player with top-tier mentality and shooting skills. If they can't handle the pressure and miss, the pressure on subsequent players only increases, and the team is more likely to crumble.
Almost at the same time Guardiola chose Lin to go first, Zidane made a similar decision for Real Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo was called up as the first penalty taker.
Ronaldo didn't object, even though he usually liked to go fifth, as that position allowed him to take the spotlight and bask in the glory of a winning moment.
But this match was different. More than seeking the spotlight, Ronaldo wanted to win.
He was afraid that if he waited until the fifth turn, his teammates might falter, and the game could be lost before it was his turn.
If that happened, though he wouldn't be blamed for missing, losing the title would be a regret too great to bear.
With Ronaldo confirmed as the first taker, Real Madrid quickly finalized their penalty order.
Manchester City took a bit longer, but they soon completed their lineup too.
The penalty shootout began.
Lin was the first to take a penalty for Manchester City. He calmly walked into the box, placed the ball, stepped back a few paces, and waited for the referee's whistle.
Real Madrid fans, seeing Lin take the first penalty, were on edge, desperately trying to disrupt him with deafening boos.
But Lin ignored the noise completely, unaffected by any outside interference.
On the contrary, it was Real Madrid's goalkeeper, Courtois, who seemed nervous, overwhelmed by the loud boos.
Any goalkeeper facing Lin in a penalty shootout would likely feel anxious.
Lin's penalty shots were too accurate—he had never missed one, or at least not in recent memory.
Courtois, thinking about Lin's impressive penalty record, felt his legs grow weak.
Once both sides were ready, the referee blew the whistle, signaling Lin to take his shot.
Lin didn't engage in mind games with Courtois, nor did he try to confuse him with fancy footwork during his run-up.
He simply took a straightforward shot, sending the ball flying cleanly and swiftly into the top left corner—a perfect finish.
Courtois got up from the ground, dejectedly walking toward the left side of the goal to give way to Manchester City's goalkeeper, Navas.
Reflecting on the goal he just conceded, Courtois was on the verge of tears.
He had actually predicted Lin's direction based on his run-up, but the shot was placed so perfectly in the corner that even with the correct guess, it didn't matter.
With his height, reach, and reflexes, Courtois still couldn't stop the ball. If he couldn't, there might not be a goalkeeper on the planet who could.
Lin's goal lifted his teammates' spirits, easing some of their tension.
But while Manchester City players celebrated wildly, the atmosphere on the Real Madrid side grew heavier.
When Ronaldo appeared in the box, both Navas and the fans were surprised.
They didn't expect Ronaldo to go first; he usually went last.
Could it be that he was reacting to Lin going first and switched his place out of rivalry?
But from the look on Real Madrid's coach's face, it didn't seem like that was the case.
As Ronaldo stood in the box, Navas quickly ran through his penalty habits.
Ronaldo typically used his right foot, and most of his shots were aimed at the right side of the goal, often in the bottom-right corner.
With this in mind, Navas decided to take a gamble!
However, his luck didn't hold. Although Ronaldo used his right foot, he didn't aim for the bottom-right corner this time. Instead, he went for a Panenka, chipping the ball right down the middle. Navas was completely fooled!
Seeing Ronaldo's audacious Panenka in such a high-stakes moment, the crowd gasped.
Real Madrid players were energized, loudly cheering and applauding Ronaldo for his nerve.
Both teams had now scored their first penalties, each in its own spectacular way, making it impossible to call a favorite.
Lin's shot was placed in an unreachable spot, while Ronaldo's Panenka was a showcase of both technical skill and mental composure.
Just imagine—if Ronaldo had missed, the criticism he would have faced from the fans...
Manchester City's second taker was David Silva, who, as expected, calmly slotted the ball home.
Real Madrid's second taker was Modric, and he too found the back of the net.
Next was the third round. Leroy Sané stepped up for Manchester City.
Sané, though sometimes selfish and reluctant to pass the ball, had solid shooting skills.
He confidently netted his shot.
With Manchester City's first three penalty takers all converting, Real Madrid felt the pressure mounting.
Real Madrid's third taker was Morata. Although Morata hadn't played much for Real Madrid, his finishing skills weren't bad—he was still the team's second-highest scorer, with a strong foundation.
The only concern was whether he could handle the pressure.
Morata didn't falter. He took a stutter-step during his run-up and coolly sent the ball into the goal.
Once again, the pressure shifted to Manchester City. Their fourth taker was Kanté.
Though Kanté rarely took penalties, his mental toughness was undeniable.
Courtois correctly guessed the direction of his shot and even got a hand on the ball, but Kanté's shot had too much power. Despite the touch, Courtois couldn't keep it out.
4-3. Manchester City temporarily had the lead.
The atmosphere grew tense. The penalty shootout was proving to be even more intense than anyone had imagined. So far, neither team had missed a shot—unbelievable!
All eyes turned to Real Madrid's next player, Marcelo, as he prepared to take his shot. Could the Brazilian pull off something unexpected?
However, Marcelo didn't disappoint. He held his nerve and calmly scored.
Once again, the shootout was tied. The tension was almost unbearable.
Manchester City's fifth taker was Van Dijk. Though young, he was incredibly composed, and Guardiola trusted him as a cornerstone of the team's defense.
Opting not to send Mbappé as the final taker, Guardiola's faith in Van Dijk was clear.
Like Kanté, Van Dijk kept things simple—opting for a powerful shot. As long as he didn't hit it directly at the keeper, the speed of the shot from such a short distance would make it nearly impossible to save.
Though Courtois guessed the right direction, he couldn't stop it.
The pressure shifted back to Real Madrid, but their fifth taker wasn't just anyone—it was their captain, Sergio Ramos!
Ramos had taken plenty of penalties for Real Madrid in the past. His mental fortitude and shooting skills were superior to those of Kanté or Van Dijk. His shot was not only powerful but also aimed at an impossibly sharp angle. Navas had no chance.
The penalty shootout's five rounds ended in a tie.
Honestly, this was a rare situation. Despite the immense pressure, all 10 penalties had gone in without a single miss!
Even the experienced referee was taken aback by the high level of skill on display.
These players were truly the best in the world—both mentally and technically.
The referee immediately announced that the penalty shootout would now enter sudden death!
From now on, the first team to miss would likely lose the match!
Manchester City went first again, but with the initial five players ineligible, Guardiola had to choose from the remaining players.
Finally, Mbappé stepped into the box!
Mbappé wasn't the kind of player to shy away from responsibility, but this was his first time playing in a Champions League final, and the match had been forced into a penalty shootout, now entering the sudden death stage.
Inexperienced and nervous, Mbappé feared he might miss and cost his team the title.
And as fate would have it, the thing he feared most happened. Studies have shown that pressure builds during a penalty shootout, and the later a player takes their turn, the lower their success rate.
Courtois, sensing Mbappé's inexperience, grew more confident.
He stared intently at Mbappé, as if trying to see through him.
Already anxious, Mbappé felt even more unsettled under Courtois' piercing gaze.
Trying too hard to place the ball out of the keeper's reach, Mbappé overcompensated, and in his nervousness, misjudged the power of his shot, sending it wide!
The ball skimmed past the goal, leaving Mbappé stunned. The crowd gasped in shock!
It was the first miss of the penalty shootout.
Courtois, ecstatic, pumped his fists and roared in celebration.
Even though he hadn't saved the shot, Courtois took credit for the miss, having piled enough psychological pressure on Mbappé to force the error.
This kid was too young!
Courtois shot Mbappé a disdainful look, his mind filled with scorn.
With nerves like that, no matter how fast or skilled you are, you'll never reach the top.
Mbappé, dejected, returned to his team, repeatedly apologizing to his teammates.
Though they tried to comfort him, he remained inconsolable.
The consequences of losing this match were too much for Mbappé to bear.
But Manchester City wasn't entirely out of the game yet. They had one last hope.
If Navas could save the next shot, they would be back on level ground.
Real Madrid's sixth taker was Casemiro!
The crowd had all risen to their feet, their eyes glued to the goal. Fans of both teams, their hearts in their throats, waited with bated breath for this decisive moment.
Casemiro began his run-up. Navas guessed the right direction and dove.
But the ball barely brushed his fingertips, whizzing past him and into the back of the net!
Boom!
The stadium exploded like a powder keg, igniting in a frenzy of noise.
Real Madrid fans wept with joy, while others screamed, their long-suppressed emotions finally erupting in frenzied cheers.
After all these years, they had finally won their tenth Champions League trophy!
On the pitch, Real Madrid players went wild, rushing toward the stands, the coaching bench, and the sidelines, celebrating in every way imaginable.
Only those who had been on the field knew just how difficult this victory had been.
The match had truly gone down to the wire, with victory decided at the very last moment.
If not for Mbappé's mistake—his overzealous attempt to aim for the corner—the shootout might have continued even longer.
Manchester City had proven themselves to be a formidable, yet admirable opponent.
Hopefully, we won't face them again on the pitch anytime soon!
(End of Chapter)
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